Problem space: Alternative futures of the comprehensive approach
Challenges in the coming decades will continue to be fraught with uncertainty, involving state and non-state actors combining conventional and asymmetric methods. They will encompass space and cyberspace, and influence the concept of comprehensive security as well as the conceptual and operational ingredients of the comprehensive approach.Shaping the opinion of a network-enabled audience will be just as important as targeting the threat. Problems related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will persist. Cyber threats will also proliferate, with possible capabilities to organize a high-consequence attack against European critical infrastructures. Likewise, non-state and hybrid actors will continue to seek capabilities to stage major terrorist attacks on the territories of EU Member States.
A comprehensive approach aims at overarching solutions to problems, with broad effects and based on complementarity of actors, while considering all available options and capabilities, as well as the normative end-state of the security of society as a whole. A comprehensive approach also entails the tackling of cross-cutting issues in home affairs, including civil protection. Reflecting the cross-border and cross-sector nature of current threats and challenges as well as the complexity of instruments and objectives along the internal-external continuum, a comprehensive approach focuses on the holistic nature and broad trade-offs involving societal goals in order to increase the security of the EU and its citizenry.
Future research should include an emphasis on the advancement and integration of approaches to foresight, with special consideration of disruptors from normative (desired) end-states. It should also focus on the implementation perspective, taking into account indicators for measuring the effectiveness of the comprehensive approach.
Challenges in the coming decades will continue to be fraught with uncertainty, involving state and non-state actors combining conventional and asymmetric methods. They will encompass space and cyberspace, and influence the concept of comprehensive security as well as the conceptual and operational ingredients of the comprehensive approach.Shaping the opinion of a network-enabled audience will be just as important as targeting the threat. Problems related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will persist. Cyber threats will also proliferate, with possible capabilities to organize a high-consequence attack against European critical infrastructures. Likewise, non-state and hybrid actors will continue to seek capabilities to stage major terrorist attacks on the territories of EU Member States.
A comprehensive approach aims at overarching solutions to problems, with broad effects and based on complementarity of actors, while considering all available options and capabilities, as well as the normative end-state of the security of society as a whole. A comprehensive approach also entails the tackling of cross-cutting issues in home affairs, including civil protection. Reflecting the cross-border and cross-sector nature of current threats and challenges as well as the complexity of instruments and objectives along the internal-external continuum, a comprehensive approach focuses on the holistic nature and broad trade-offs involving societal goals in order to increase the security of the EU and its citizenry.
Future research should include an emphasis on the advancement and integration of approaches to foresight, with special consideration of disruptors from normative (desired) end-states. It should also focus on the implementation perspective, taking into account indicators for measuring the effectiveness of the comprehensive approach.